The Eye of the Needle: Based on a Yupik Tale

by Teri Sloat, Betty Huffmon (As Told by)

Sent out to hunt by his grandmother, hungry little Amik can't resist eating everything he catches. The more he catches, the more he eats, until he can no longer fit through the door of his grandmother's Yupik house in the Arctic. When his grandmother releases the magic in her ivory sewing needle, Amik finally learns the importance of sharing.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Food

32 pages, Paperback

First published September 6, 1990

Reviews

[CanadianReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

The grade 2 and 3 students I read this story to loved this Yupik/Inuit tall tale about a boy who is sent out fishing for Grandmother after the long winter. Amik is so hungry, though, that he devours everything he catches, and has nothing to bring back to Grandmother. Luckily, Grandmother's ivory needle has a magic eye that solves the problem and the two have enough to feed all their friends--in the true spirit of Inuit sharing. The illustrations are lovely, showing the tundra and the traditional foods of the Inuit. A terrific book...but you don't know how terrific it is until you try it with kids.

[wyrdling · Rating 3 out of 5]

yupik tale retold. the kiddos loved it. particularly the alien (arctic) landscape and the animals in it.

sort of a morality tale on gluttony and communal needs. vivid.

[Jerusalen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teri Sloat Has a bid imagination.Its weird how the boy fit in the eye of the needle . But I guess that is what makes the book have intrusting .

[Lana Kamennof-sine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A picture book based upon a Yupik story that illustrates a young boy's first foray as primary food hunter for his Grandmother & himself. After a very successful day finding a variety of sea food he returns empty handed. There his Grandmother finds a solution that results in no one going hungry.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alissa loved the pictures. She looked at the books while she ate leftover Easter dinner - ham and potatoes. She giggled when the duck entered the story.

[Linda Rusche · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this story! It's fun to read and the illustrations match the environment and culture. Helps to discuss the lesson Amik learns! This will be gifted to my Grandkids.

[Jasmin Rangel · Rating 2 out of 5]

did not read aloud well.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eye of the Needle is about greed, being selfish, and the importance of sharing. The young boy in the story is so hungry that he eats everything he hunts. Eventually he returns home with nothing. However, as folklore teaches, he does return with his entire catch, a feast large enough for the entire community. His punishment is that he is no longer hungry and can’t partake and enjoy the fruits of his hunt. Eye of the Needle is a Yupik Eskimo folktale as retold by Betty Huffmon in collaboration with author Teri Sloat. According to the back cover, Sloat met Huffmon in the Alaska bush when they were both teachers. The carefully researched illustrations tell the story beautifully. Colors used are earth and sea tones. After each fish is devoured, Amik’s size grows in proportion to the fish he has just eaten. Through the creativity of the illustrator, the visual illustrations could stand-alone and tell the story even without the text.

[Kalynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Native Alaskan tales and this one doesn't disappoint. I did think the ending was going to be quite different, but that is also part of the enjoyment. I loved the illustrations and my anticipation grew as Amik traveled in search of food. There is a magic connection with this lesson on sharing and thinking about the needs of others--which is also part of the delight of the story.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Art is beautifully done -- I especially appreciate the way Sloat includes birds on many of the pages. Strong sense of place. Her portrayal of people is comfortable -- not too realistic, not too abstract, but just right for a Yupik tale.

[Carmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that has just never failed as a read-aloud.

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful picture book of a Yupik tale. The landscape and the people are represented beautifully and accurately. The story is amusing, but also carries with it an important message about sharing.

[Scott Williams]

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[Kelly Ng · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow this book has a lot of imagination put together in this which i love and i recommend it to you guys.